I​​ come to you from Oklahoma City, where I’ve spent the past 12 years as a reporter and editor at The Oklahoman newspaper. I covered the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008-15 and the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005-07.

I loved my time in Oklahoma. It’s my home state — I grew up in a small town called Langston. But it’s also where I grew professionally thanks to an amazing opportunity and some awesome experiences. I was fortunate to serve as the first NBA writer in Oklahoma City. I was the only media member to cover every NBA game played in OKC — and the majority of those played on the road — from 2005-15.

I delivered daily reports on Chris Paul when he was but a baby-faced rookie and a sensational sophomore during the New Orleans Hornets’ two seasons in OKC following Hurricane Katrina. I chronicled the evolution of Russell Westbrook from reckless rookie to riveting league MVP. I documented Kevin Durant before his “next chapter” set fire to the league’s competitive balance. I covered James Harden long before he became a household name behind his sensational scoring, signature bushy beard and his spectacular swag.

I watched LeBron James get his first ring, Blake Griffin jump over a car, Kevin Garnett compare a young Durant to “Michael f***ing Jordan,” Westbrook deny Denver fans free queso by blocking a half-court shot from the Nuggets mascot, and Joakim Noah comically get booted from the Thunder home locker room.

I spent much of my career spearheading and shaping Oklahoma City’s NBA coverage. I set a standard for what professional beat writing looks like for a newspaper covering a new team, in a new pro market. I am extremely proud of what I accomplished in Oklahoma as the guy favored as the state’s pioneer NBA reporter. And I am tremendously blessed to now join another incredible team at The Athletic and again be a part of building something special.

I stepped away from a beat writing role and into an editing position the last two years to focus on my family. I have a young daughter who lives in the Chicago area, and she is the most important person in my life. I can’t put into words how much it means to me to be reunited with her. At the same time, I am extraordinarily humbled by this opportunity to once again take on my dream job of covering the NBA, this time chronicling one of the league’s most storied franchises, the Chicago Bulls.

I come to you with one goal — serve you, the audience. That alone has been my mission throughout my journalism career. That alone is why I log long hours, ask tough questions, accept tense moments, dig a level deeper. If you have a question, I want to be the one who answers it. If you have an idea for a cool story, I want to be the one who writes it. But if I’m really serving you, the audience, I’ll provide those answers and produce those stories long before you’ve thought of them. I can’t promise perfection. But I can promise passion.

I will admit, the challenge here is somewhat daunting. I’m leaving Oklahoma City, where my work is known — where I am known — and coming to Chicago, where I’m starting all over as a nobody. But I have enormous belief in myself and my new team at The Athletic, where I’m simply one of many who is hungry for success.

I will be transparent — my teams are Michigan (Fab Five), the Minnesota Vikings (they drafted a wide receiver named Matthew Hatchette out of Langston University in ’97, plucked Randy Moss the next year, and I’ve been rolling with them ever since), and the Washington Wizards (my first NBA game back in middle school, and, well, I’m a loyal guy). I will be fair. I will be engaging.

I don’t intend to be the story ever again in this space. So now that you know more about me, please allow me to tell you stories about the team and players you love.

I can’t wait to get started, Chicago! I know it will be a fun ride. I hope you will join me.

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Darnell Mayberry joined The Athletic Chicago in 2017 and covers the Bulls. He spent 12 years at The Oklahoman, where he handled the Thunder beat before moving into an editor’s role. Prior to The Oklahoman, Darnell covered the University of Akron men's basketball, preps and recruiting at the Akron Beacon Journal. He is the author of "100 Things Thunder Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die." Follow Darnell on Twitter @DarnellMayberry.